Automatic pump



Ap 7, 1953 P. CLEMENTS AUTOMATIC PUMP 3 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1951 INVENTOR. 3 Frail/6A. l/emems ATTEIRN EYS April 7, 1953 P. L. CLEMENTS 2,633,801

AUTOMATIC PUMP Filed Feb. 19, 1951 3'Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR. Fraj/Ze Af/ememis ATTD RNEYS showing the timing mechanism.

Patented Apr. 7, 19 53 Pruitte L. Clements, Pauls Valley, Okla. Application February 19, 1951, Serial No, 211,651 t This invention relates to an automatic pump, andmore particularly to an automatic pump for oil wells. 'r a The object of the invention is'to provide a pump which will pump oil from an oil'well until the level of oil inthe well drops below a certain level, after which the ump will temporarily stop.

operating until the .level of oil in the well rises abov'ea predetermined level. a

'Another object offthe invention is toprovide an automatic o'il well pump which is especially suitable for pumping oil from small wells, the operatio'n'v .of the pump automatically stopping after thelevel'of oil "in the well recedes too much so that an attendant is" not required to disconnect the pump,.the assembly of the present invention adapted to be used ior simultaneously pumping oil from a plurality of adjacent wells,-the pump o'f'the present invention effecting a saving in labor costs as well as enablinga higher percentage of oil recovery from small wells which ordinarily would not be worked.

- A- further object of the invention is to provide an oil well pumping system which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Qtherobjects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of' this application, and-in'which like'numerals are-used to designate; like parts throughout the same.

Figural is'a side elevational view of the pump assembly-constructed according to the present invention, and showing the position of the parts when the pump is not operating.-

Figure 2- is a fragmentary side elevational view showing.the-position'of: the partswhen the hook member is being raised into operative position. .'.Fig'ure"3 is a-fragmentaryside elevational view, showing-thepositionv of the parts when the pump isoperating. i.

'iFigure lis a fragmentaryside elevational view -"Figure5 is 'a sectional'view taken on'the'line 5'--5'of.Figure 4.

1 Figure 6 is a sectional 5+6 ofFigure 4., i V

Figure If is an: enlarged; top plan view of the assembly of Figure 4; Y

Figure 8,,is a sectional view-takenon the line 88 ofFigurel. 1

Figure 9 is an cnlargedsectional view taken on the line 3-9 of Figure 1. r

1 Figure 10 is an enlarged elevational view of thebrake.

;-.Figure 11 is-a sectional; view: taken on the line Il-l| of Figure 10.

view taken ;on the line 3Claims. (01.103 23) 2 Figure 12 is'an enlarged side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section showing the operation of'the crank. I Figure 13 is a View similarto Figure 12; but showing the position of the parts when the pump is operating.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the assembly of Figure 13.

Figure 5 1s anend 'elevational view oithe crank.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 3U designates a vertically disposed hollow standard which maybe made of asuitable piece of pipe, Figures 12 13 and 14. The standard 313 has its lower end-embedded in a concrete base 3!,

and the standard 3iiis provided with a pair of opposed slots'32' and 33.- A crank 34 is pivotally.

mounted i'nthe standard 30 by means of a pin 31, and thecrank 34 comprises a. first bracket 35 which is connected to aisecond bracket 36 by a pin 38.

'The bracket. s5v isprovided with a plurality of. spaced openings 39 adjacent one end, and the bar 40 is'adapted to have one of its ends arranged in engagement with one of the openings 39. The other bracket 36-has aj cammember 4| pivotallyconnected thereto by means of a pin 43, and a coil spring 42 is interposed between the cam member 41 and the bracket 36 for a purpose to be later described. V I

The other endoi the bar nectedto a movable lever 44, the lever '44 being provided with a plurality of spaced openings 45 and one ofthese openings 45 isadapted to be engaged by the bar 4!]. The lever 44 can be adjustedas to height or elevation, since the lever 44 is telescopically arranged in a sleeve 45, the lowerend ot'the s1eeve'46 being-pivotally. con- 'nected to cars ll by apin'h-Figure 1., The ears 4! may be embedded in a concrete base .49. A

creases, as when thelevel of oil in the wellfalls i below a predetermined level, the-rod 52 will sway or bend downwardslightly. Mounted on the rod 52 is a dog or block 53, Figure 1, and when the rod 52 sways downwardly to theposition shown in Figure 1,, as'when the level of -oil in the well decreases sufiiciently, th'eblock' 53 will move down- 46 is pivotally con- 3 wardly and engage the upper end of the lever 44 to thereby move the bar 49 and crank 34 from the position shown in Figure 13 to the position shown in Figure 12.

The arm is provided with a notch 54, Figure 13, in its lower surface, and the notch 54 is adapted to be selectively engaged by a keeper 55, the keeper 55 being urged upwardly into engagement withthe notch 54..- when thecrank: 34. pivots from the position shown in Figure 13 to the position shown in Figure 12. The keeper 55 is slidably maintained in its proper place by means of a pair of L-shaped guide members 56, Figure. 1.4. A pair of cars 51 are secured to one end of the arm 5| by suitable securing elements such as rivets 53, and a pin 59 pivotallyconnectsone end. of a hook member 69 to the ears 51'. The hook member 60 is provided with a hook 6| for. a purpose to be later described. Thus, as shown in Figures 12.. and 13, the. hook member 6i} can. pivot about the pin 59.

A reciprocating link 62. is provided with an off-- set portion 63, Figure 11, and a clamp 64 connects one end of the link 5.2, to: a ring. 55.. The. ring @5- is adapted to selectively engage the hook Bil when the hook 6.1 is in its raised. position as shown: in Figure 2. The other end of the link 62 is adapted to be connected to a. conventional engine which may be arranged in a powerhouse (not shown).

The offset portion 53, of. the link 52 is adapted to engage an upright 66 on: its return stroke, the lower end of the upright. 66: being pivotally con.- nected to. cars. 61' by a pin 68. The ears B1- are embedded. or otherwise-secured in abase 59. The upright 56 is provided with a. plurality of spaced openings Hi, Figure l. The link- 52- is guided; by a guide member I3 which is mounted on. the upper end of a pole. it, and the. pole H.- can have its lower end embedded in the concrete base 12..

The assembly of the present invention furtherincludes a timing mechanism which. is indicated generally by the numeral I4, Figures 4 7 and 8. The timing mechanism it includes a first gear wheel I5, and a second gear wheel I6; Secured to the first gear wheel I5 by screws or rivets I8, is a lug II which is provided with several teeth thereon. The teeth of the lug II are adapted to engage the teeth on the gear wheel I6 so that rotation of the gear wheel I5 will cause rotation of the gear wheel IS. The second gear wheel I5 is rotatably connected to a vertically disposed plate 80 by means of a pin I9, while the first gear wheel I5 is rotatably connected to the plate 89 by a pin 8!, and the plate 89 extends upwardly from a horizontally disposed plate 83 which is secured to a concrete base 82.

A roller 84 is secured to the gear wheel 85, Figures 4 and 8'. The roller 84 is adapted to engage a movable finger 85,. Figure 2, and the finger 85 has one end pivotally connected to a post 8.7. by means of a pin 86. Secured to the other end of the finger 85 is, a collar 88,, and the collar 88 forms part of, a support member 9|. The. support member 9| further includes a stem 89 that is slidably arranged in the collar or casing .88, and

mounted on the upper end of the stem 89 is a seat 99 which is adapted to engage the lower surface of the hook member 66. A. Set screw 92 is provided formaintaining the stem 89 immobile in its various adjusted positions in. the collar 88.

An ear 93 has its lower end pivotally connected to the plate 89, and the upper end of the ear 93 is connected to one end of a brace 9'4, the other end of the brace 94 being arranged in engagement with one of the openings I9 in the upright wells.

'4 66, Figure l. Carried by the ear 93 is a pawl 95, and the pawl 95 is adapted to engage the teeth on the gear wheel I5, so that as the brace 94 moves back and forth due to the movement of the upright or link 62, the gear wheel I5 will be rotated. A dog 95 is pivotally connected to the plate 89, and the dog 96 also engages the teeth on the gear wheel I5 for preventing this gear wheel from rotating in the wrong direction.

A brake is provided for preventing accidental rotation of the second gear wheel 76, and this brake is shown in detail in Figures 10 and 11. The. brake includes a body member 9'! that is secured to the plate by means of set screws 93;. and a'cam. 9.9 is pivotally connected to the body member 91 by means of a pin I 90. A coil spring ill-I- is interposed between the plate 80 and the: cam 99, and the coil spring I9| normally urges the cam member w into frictional engagement with the gear wheel I6.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an assembly has been provided which will automatically operate the pumping equipment of oil The assembly is, so constructed that the oil will be pumped from the wells until the levelof oil recedes below a certain level, and then the pump will be automatically stopped until the level of oil in the well again rises. The rod 52 is adap ed. to be connected to a conven i l pump jack which. may be arranged. at the t p or. head of the oil well. while the. link 6.2. i adapt d. to be connected. to. a, conventional engine which may be arranged in a. powerhouse. The assembly oi the. resent invention is especially suitable for operating wells that produce only a small. amountf Such as. from onehal to, thirty barrels. oi oil per twenty-four hours... are presently operated manually so. that at the. present time when the oil in therwell becomes exhausted, or when, it; drops below a certain level, an attendant must be at the central power stag. tion to disengage the hook; member 60v from the ring 65 until the well bore again; fillsup with, fluid. Then, it has been the practice to have the attendant again connect the hook member iii to the ring 65 when. the fluid level in the well bore increases again.

By means of the assembly of the present in-v vention, one or more wells can be operated without the attention of an attendant, since when the fluid, in the: Well bore drops sufliciently'. the operation of the fill-mp jack 101. that particular well will be stopped. Thus. the. labor costs for operating these small wells will be. grea ly re duoed. Also, it. will not be necessary to abandon these wells which of oil.

In operation, the. link- 62: is reciprocated back and forth by means of the conventional engine in the powerhouse, and the link 62 normally moves about twenty-four inches at the rate of about ten strokes per minute, Each time the link 62 moves back on its return stroke, the oiiset portion 63 will engage the upright. 66 to thereby pivot the upright, and this movement of the upright 66 will cause the brace 94 and car 93 to move. This pivotal movement of the ear 93 causes the gear wheel I5 to rotate, since the pawl engages the teeth on the gear wheel I5. The gear wheel I5 is of such a size thatit will make a complete revolution every five minutes, and it will be seen that the toothed lug II which is car ried by the gear wheel I5 will also make a complete revolution every five minutes. Thus, the toothed lug II will engage the second gear wheel These. small oil wellsv produce onlya small, quantity 16 once every .five vminutesto thereby rotate the gear wheel 16 so that the gear wheel IE will make one complete revolution every .two hundred and fifty minutes and this is the time during which the pump jack will not operate. A greater number of the toothed lugs 11 can be provided if it is desired to reduce th time at which the pump the rod 52 will be pulled taut due to increased oil in the oil well, and the keeper 55 will drop below the notch 54 and the pump jack will again be operated.

The brake mechanism including the members 91 and 99 prevents accidental rotation of the gear wheel 15.

When the well bore is full of oil, the rod 52 is held taut since the full load of fluid causes the rod 52 to run in a horizontal or straight line. As the fluid level in the bore lowers, the pumping device in the well bore will not pick up a full load of oil or fluid, and when the pumping device engages the top of the fluid which gradually is getting lower and lower, and when the well bore is pumped dry, the rod 52 will sway several inches so that the block 53 will engage the upper end of the lever 45. This will cause a pivotal movement of the crank 34 so that the keeper 55 will be moved up into engagement with the notch 54. This will stop action of the pump jack since the arm 5| or rod 52 will not be able to reciprocate. Then, the hook member 60 will be able to pivot downwardly about the pin 59 as shown in Figure 1. Thus, the pump jack will not operate for four hours or less (this time can be varied as desired), and then the ring 65 and hook 6| "will again be engaged with each other so that pumping operations W111 start and continue until fluid in the well bore is exhausted and then the previously described operations will be repeated. The spring 42 enables the cam member 4| to flex sufiiciently in the event that the keeper 55 is urged upwardly against the lower surface of the arm 5| before the notch 54 is in the correct position. As the parts are shown in Figure l, the pump jack is not operating. It is to be noted, that when the fluid level in the well bore is too low, the pump jack will not pick-up a full load of oil so that the rod 52 will sway or bend slightly. When the rod 52 sways, the block 53 will engage the upper end of the lever 44. This causes pivotal movement of the crank 34 so that the crank 34 moves from the position shown in Figure 13 to the position shown in Figure 12 and this pivotal movement of the crank will cause the keeper 55 to be seated in the notch 54 so that the arm 5| will remain stationary and so will the rod 52 remain stationary whereby further operation of the pump jack will be prevented.

The previously described timing mechanism is constructed so that at predetermined intervals the finger 85 will be raised to thereby lift the support member 9| whereby the hook member 60 will be raised upwardly as shown in Figure 2 so that the reciprocating ring 65 can engage the hookmember 60. Then, the reciprocating link 62 will cause the arm 5| and rod 52 to reciprocate whereby the pump jack will be operated until the level of oil in the well is again lowered.

It win be seen that eventually the s'upport mem- 12 whereby thehook 6| and ring 65 will become disengaged when the oil in the 'welldrops below a certain level. By arranging the brace 94 in engagement with different of th openings 10 in the upright 66, the timing mechanism can be varied to operate at different interv'j'alsl" With the parts shown in Figure 3, the pump jack will be operated to pump oil from the oil well.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

1. In an automatic oil pumping system, a vertically disposed standard, a crank pivotally connected to said standard, a bar having one end connected to said crank, a movable lever connected to the other end of ,said bar, a horizontally disposed arm slidably supported by said standard, a rod having one end connected to said arm and its other end adapted to be connected to an oil well pump jack, a block mounted on said rod for engaging the upper end of said lever when said rod sways as a result of a decreasing load of oil in the well, a hook member pivotally connected to said arm, a reciprocating link provided with an offset portion and having one end adapted to be connected to an engine, a ring connected to the other end of said link for engagement with said hook member, a movable upright adapted to be engaged by said offset portion. and a timing mechanism for selectively raising said hook member to be engaged by said ring, said timing mechanism comprising a vertically disposed plate, a first gear wheel rotatably connected to said plate, a second gear wheel rotatably connected to said plate, a toothed lug carried by said first gear wheel for engaging said second gear wheel, a roller connected to said second gear wheel, a movable finger adapted to be engaged by said roller, an adjustable support member connected to said finger for engaging said hook member, and means for selectively rotating said first gear wheel upon pivotal movement of said upright.

2. In an automatic oil pumping system, a vertically disposed standard, a crank pivotally conwhat is 'nected to said standard, a; bar having one end connected to said crank, a movable lever connected to the other end of said bar, a horizontally disposed arm slidably supported by said standard, a rod having one end connected to said arm and its other end adapted to be connected to an oil well pump jack, a block mounted on said rod for engaging the upper end of said lever when said rod sways as a result of a decreasing load of oil in the well, a hook member pivotally connected to said arm, a reciprocating link provided with an offset portion and having one end adapted to be connected to an engine, a ring connected to the other end of said link for engagement with said hook member, a movable opright adapted to be engaged by said offset portion, and a timing mechanism for selectively raising said hook member to be engaged by said ring, said timing mechanism comprising a vertically disposed plate, a first gear wheel rotatably connected to said plate, a second gear wheel rotatably connected to said plate, a toothed lug carried by said first gear wheel for engaging said second gear wheel, a roller connected to said second gear wheel, a movable finger adapted to be engaged by said roller, an adjustable support 3.v The apparatus as described in claim 2 andv further including a brake for controlling rota- 10 tion of said second gear wheel.

. PRUITTE L. CLEMENTS.

Number Raranenons ems The following references are of record in the: file of this "patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Quigg Dec. 2'7, 1932 Myers May 28, 1940 McKay Apr. 14, 1942 Myers Aug. 10, 1943 Miller et a1.' Nov. 23, 1943 

